Massachusetts Licensing Overview

On November 22, 2011, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts legalized gambling through the state’s Expanded Gaming Act. The Act allows for up to three destination resort casinos to be located in three geographically diverse regions — Springfield, Taunton and Everett — in addition to a single slots facility located in Plainville. The Gaming Act established the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which governs the licensing process.

As such, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission requires every employee at a gaming establishment within the state to be licensed and registered by the Commission before the beginning of employment or the performance of any service. Those applications are Key Gaming Employee – Executive, Key Gaming Employee – Standard, Gaming Employee and Gaming Service Employee.

Additionally, vendors must be licensed and registered before conducting business with a gaming establishment. Vendor applications are Non-Gaming Vendor, Gaming Vendor – Primary, and Gaming Vendor – Secondary.

Notably, a temporary licensing process is available.

Vendor Licensing and Registration

Non-Gaming Vendor Definition

A Non-Gaming Vendor is defined by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission as a business that offers to a gaming establishment or gaming licensee goods or services that are not directly related to gaming.

A Non-Gaming Vendor must complete and submit the following before conducting business with a gaming establishment or gaming licensee in Massachusetts:

1. Non-Gaming Vendor Registration Form- Description of Business- Trading As, Doing Business As, or the Services of- Other Names and Addresses of the Business- Criminal History- Antitrust, Trade and Regulation and Securities Agreements; Statutory and Regulatory Violations2. Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue3. Signed Statement of Truth and Acknowledgement4. Signed and Notarized Release Authorization Form5. If applicable to your business:- Articles of Incorporation and supporting documentation- Certification verifying minority, woman or veteran business enterprise status from one of the following:a. MBE: Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, Greater New England Minority Development Councilb. WBE: Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, Women's Business Enterprise Councilc. VBE: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (www.va.gov/osdbu), Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s Division of Licensing

Fees: The fee for a Non-Gaming Vendor Registration is $100.

Duration: The registration is valid for 5 years.

Gaming Vendor – Secondary

Although an applicant may receive a Non-Gaming Vendor designation, a vendor that regularly conducts significant business with a gaming establishment may be redefined by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission as a “Gaming Vendor – Secondary.”

If a vendor is designated as a “Gaming Vendor – Secondary,” the Massachusetts Gaming Commission staff conducts a “scope of licensing” discussion with the vendor to determine which individuals and affiliated entities qualify and are required to complete the licensing process.

A Gaming Vendor – Secondary applicant must complete and submit the following:

For those conducting business with a casino directly relating to gaming, including the manufacture, sale, lease, supply or distribution of devices, machines or equipment designed for use in the gaming area, for use in simulcast wagering, used in connection with gaming or having the capacity to affect the calculation, storage, collection, electronic security or control of gaming revenues from a gaming establishment.

According to the MGC, applicants for a Gaming Vendor license must have an initial “scope of licensing” discussion with Commission to determine which individuals and affiliated entities are required to qualify for licensure. This must occur before submission of application materials.

An applicant for a Gaming Vendor – Primary License must complete and submit the following:

1. A completed application.2. The gaming establishment must file a written petition requesting that a temporary (6 months) license issue to the vendor. At least 2 to 4 weeks is needed after the application is complete and the petition is filed for the background investigation of the vendor before a temporary license will issue.

The fee for a temporary license is dependent upon which license is being applied for.

Employee Licensing and Registration:

Key Gaming Employee Definition

A Key Gaming Employee is an employee of a gaming establishment who is: (1) in a supervisory capacity; (2) empowered to make discretionary decisions which regulate gaming establishment operations; or (3) designated as a Key Gaming Employee by the Commission.

An applicant for the Key Gaming Employee – Executive must complete and submit the following:

1. Multi-Jurisdictional Form:- General Identification Information- Employment and Licensing History- Civil, Criminal and Investigatory Proceedings- Financial Data- Net Worth Statement – Assets and Liabilities2. Massachusetts Supplemental Form- Ownership Interest- Spouse Information- Antitrust, Trade Regulation and Security Agreements – Statutory and Regulatory Violations- Authorization to Obtain Tax Information from Department of Revenue3. Provide a copy of the offer letter from the gaming establishment for the position for which you will be hired4. Submit two sets of fingerprint cards and proof of identification (the prospective employer will provide details on the fingerprinting process)5. Commonwealth Terms and Conditions6. W-9

An applicant for the “Key Gaming Employee – Standard” must complete and submit the following:

1. Key Gaming Employee – Standard Form- General Identification Information- Employment and Licensing History- Civil, Criminal and Investigatory Proceedings- Financial Data- Antitrust, Trade Regulation and Security Agreements – Statutory and Regulatory Violations- Net Worth Statement – Assets and Liabilities2. Provide a copy of the offer letter from the gaming establishment for the position for which you will be hired3. Submit two sets of fingerprint cards and proof of identification (the prospective employer will provide details on the fingerprinting process)4. Commonwealth Terms and Conditions5. W-9

Fees: The fee for a Key Gaming Employee – Standard is $1,000.

Duration: The license is valid for 5 years.

Gaming Employee Definition

A Gaming Employee is an employee of a gaming establishment who is: (1) directly connected to the operation or maintenance of a slot machine or game; (2) provides security in a gaming establishment; or (3) has access to a restricted area; (4) is connected with the operation of a gaming establishment; or (5) is designated as a Gaming Employee by the Commission.

An applicant for a Gaming Employee License must complete and submit the following:

1. A Gaming Employee License Form- General Identification Information- Offices and Positions- Employment History- Licensing History- Antitrust, Trade Regulation and Security Agreements – Statutory and Regulatory Violations2. A copy of the offer letter from the gaming establishment for the position for which the employee will be hired3. Two sets of fingerprint cards and proof of identification (the prospective employer will provide details on the fingerprinting process)

Fees: The fee for a Gaming Employee License is $300.

Duration: The license is valid for 5 years.

Gaming Service Employee Definition

A Gaming Service Employee is an employee of a gaming establishment who is classified as a Gaming Employee or a Key Gaming Employee, but is required to register with the Commission.

2. A copy of the offer letter from the gaming establishment for the position for which the employee will be hired

3. Two sets of fingerprint cards and proof of identification (the prospective employer will provide details on the fingerprinting process)

Fees: The fee for a Gaming Service Employee license is $75.

Duration: The license is valid for 5 years.

Continuing Reporting Obligation:

Individuals who are licensed or registered by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission have a continuing duty to notify and update the Commission within 10 days of the occurrence of:

- Any arrest, indictment, charge or criminal conviction in any jurisdiction;- Any exclusion from any casino, gaming establishment or gambling entity in any jurisdiction;- Any denial, suspension or revocation by a government agency in any jurisdiction of a license, registration or approval held by or applied for by the individual;- Any discipline imposed by a government agency in any jurisdiction; and/or- Any reports, complaints or allegations of which the individual is or should be aware involving conduct that could lead to criminal charges

Horse Racing Occupational Licensing

Interested applicants must complete an application, respective of the section related to either standardbred or thoroughbred racing, and contact the Division of Racing/Licensing to set up a location, time and date so that you may be fingerprinted and have your photo taken.